an acceptable grade

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an acceptable grade" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the minimum level of performance that is considered satisfactory in an academic context. Example: "To pass the course, you need to achieve at least an acceptable grade on the final exam."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

The performance evaluation of the proposed system shows that the VCL based architecture satisfies the rapid deployment requirement and gives an acceptable grade of service.

Computer Networks

The valley west of Altoona was split into two ravines by a mountain; surveys had already found a route with an acceptable grade east from Gallitzin to the south side of the valley, and Horseshoe Curve allowed the same grade to continue to Altoona.

Wikipedia

The committee selected 16 candidates who scored above an acceptable grade level in the pre-test of 64 applicants.

Human Resources for Health

However, our data do not justify its complexity over the much easier bedside calculation of ECBL and 25% fall in bilirubin, both performing with an acceptable grade of accuracy within our cohort (AUROC 0.72 0.78).

Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

For many college students, survival means keeping up on assigned reading, maintaining an acceptable grade-point average and squeezing in extracurricular activities.

The New York Times

The plan is intended to make sure that even 8-year-olds are performing at an acceptable level before they move on to higher grades.

The New York Times

Bush scored only 25percentt on a pilot-aptitude test, the lowest acceptable grade.

Huffington Post

The role of sodium sulphate in separating phosphate from its impurities and producing an acceptable concentrate grade for phosphoric acid production (equals or more than 30%P2O55) was evaluated using augmented factorial design.

Separation and Purification Technology

Istanbul also did not meet the minimum acceptable grade established by the working group, but the executive board, essentially the board of directors, decided by a majority vote to allow Istanbul to bid because its candidacy was considered the strongest of the second tier.

The New York Times - Sports

SRA 3 mix exhibited the result of "Good" grade in the evaluation grades presented by the standards in Sweden, which was higher than the "Acceptable" grade for Plain.

International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials

The combination regimen was well tolerated with acceptable grade 3 and 4 hematologic toxicities and some grade 3 fatigue, diarrhea, and pyrexia.

Cancer Management and Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Contextualize "an acceptable grade" with specific metrics or expectations to avoid ambiguity. For instance, specify the grading scale or the criteria used to determine acceptability.

Common error

Avoid using "an acceptable grade" without providing context. Instead of vaguely stating that a performance is 'acceptable', quantify it with specific numerical values or clearly defined benchmarks to provide a more precise evaluation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an acceptable grade" functions as a noun phrase, where "acceptable" modifies the noun "grade". It describes a level of performance that meets a minimum standard or requirement. According to Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

35%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an acceptable grade" is a grammatically sound phrase used to denote a satisfactory, albeit not necessarily exceptional, level of performance or achievement. Ludwig confirms its correctness and usability in English writing. It frequently appears in scientific, news, and media contexts, signaling that a minimum standard has been met. While alternatives like "a satisfactory score" or "a passing mark" exist, "an acceptable grade" provides a clear and direct way to communicate that a certain level of performance is sufficient for the given requirements. To ensure clarity, it's best to contextualize the phrase with specific metrics or expectations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a satisfactory score

Replaces "acceptable grade" with synonyms for both words, maintaining the overall meaning.

a passing mark

Uses a common idiom for achieving the minimum required standard.

a sufficient grade

Substitutes "acceptable" with "sufficient", implying the grade is adequate.

a reasonable grade

Replaces "acceptable" with "reasonable", suggesting the grade meets expectations.

an adequate grade

Employs "adequate" as a synonym for "acceptable", indicating the grade is just good enough.

a tolerable grade

Uses "tolerable", implying the grade is barely acceptable but not ideal.

a minimum passing grade

Specifies that the grade is the lowest possible to pass.

a decent grade

Replaces "acceptable" with "decent", indicating the grade is fairly good.

a respectable grade

Implies the grade is good enough to be respected or admired.

a satisfactory level of achievement

Rephrases the entire concept to focus on the level of achievement rather than the grade itself.

FAQs

What does "an acceptable grade" mean in academics?

In academics, "an acceptable grade" generally refers to the minimum grade required to pass a course or meet a specific academic requirement. It indicates that the student's performance has met the basic standards set by the instructor or institution.

What are some alternatives to saying "an acceptable grade"?

You can use alternatives like "a satisfactory score", "a passing mark", or "a sufficient grade" depending on the context.

How is "an acceptable grade" different from a good grade?

"An acceptable grade" implies meeting the minimum requirements, while a good grade suggests performance that exceeds expectations. An acceptable grade might be a C, whereas a good grade would likely be a B or A.

Is it always enough to aim for "an acceptable grade"?

While achieving "an acceptable grade" may be sufficient for passing, aiming for higher grades can open doors to more opportunities, such as scholarships, advanced courses, and career prospects. Striving for excellence often yields greater long-term benefits.